How to enable AD recycle bin in Windows Server 2012

Microsoft has now simplified the recovery process by incorporating Deleted Objects node in the Active Directory Administrative Center (ADAC). Graphical user interface has now been provided by the Microsoft to manage and recover the deleted objects.

By default, Active Directory Recycle Bin is disabled. To enable this feature, you must raise the forest functional to Windows Server 2008 R2 or higher. Once this feature has been enabled, it can’t be reverted.

Steps to use Recycle Bin User Interface in Windows Server 2012

Raise the forest functional level

Enable Recycle Bin

Create test user, group or any OU

Restore deleted objects

How to Raise the Forest Functional level:

Open Active Directory Users and Computer by running dsa.msc command from powershell.

Right click and select the Raise Domain functional level.

Select Windows 2008 R2

A message will appear confirming functional level can’t be reversed. Click Ok to close the window.

Testing AD recycle bin by deleting and restoring deleted objects.

Open Active Directory Users and Computers or ADAC to create a new user, group or OU.

Delete the objects to restore.

Once objects are deleted, now is the time to restore it.

Open Active Directory Administrative Center, expand the domain and click on the Deleted Objects.

In the result pane, you will see objects deleted in the above steps. Select the objects which you want to restore, and click on Restore or Restore To option for restoring deleted objects to a different location.

PowerShell commands to restore the deleted objects to their original location